UNDERSTANDING THE FISH FARMING CONSTRAINTS

Experiences from the fish farmers of Samdrupcholing Sub-Disrict

Abstract

This case study was conducted to understand constraints to fish farming in Samdrupcholing Dungkhag. The technical staff of the Regional Centre for Aquaculture (RCA), Department of Livestock (DoL), Phuntshothang were used to collect data from all known fish farmers under Samdrupcholing Dungkhag. The study revealed that majority of the farmers (88.89%) were male, with larger proportion of age group (29.63%) are between 41-50 and 61-70 years of age. Majority (55.56%) of the fish farmers are illiterate while 51.85% of them have more than 11 years fish farming experience. Almost all (92.59%) the respondents are Hindu religion followers and farming (85.19) as primary occupation. Analysis of constraints in fish farming showed that unavailability of fish feed and pest/predators are the major constraints while water availability, technical knowledge of the farmers and inadequate capital were ranked as minor constraints deterring the fish farming in the region. Of the listed constraints, unavailability of fish feed, pest/predators, inadequate capital and water availability are more important because these constraints exist at severe to very severe level while technical knowledge and inadequate capital in constraints to severe level.